Have you ever felt a special connection between you and a few of your friends? That’s what happened between Carmen, Bridget, Lena, and Tibby in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
In this fiction story, Ann Brashares tells about four girls that grew up as best friends. They all start out as friends from the beginning. Their moms were the ones that started their friendships. They went to Planned Parenting classes together when they were pregnant. Since all of them lived in the same town, they would always hang out during the summer and would do everything together. They have never been away from each other for long periods of time.
Carmen is the girl who starts out narrating the story. But then as the story progresses, she lets it flow out to the stories of the other girls’ summer. Carmen’s parents had gotten a divorce a few years back and this summer she is going to visit her dad in South Carolina. She had this great summer all planned out but when she got there she realized her plans wouldn't work out.
Bridget is the pretty blond haired girl. She is a soccer star and is going to Baja California this summer to go to a soccer camp.
Lena is the quiet but beautiful one who's parents come from Greece. She absolutely loves to paint. She is going to Greece this summer to paint and to visit her grandparents for a few weeks.
Tibby is the girl who is quiet and usually doesn't like to talk about stuff that is going on in her life. But when she does open up she could go on talking about stuff for days.
This is the first summer that the girls would ever be apart. They need something special to connect with each other though the summer. I bet they never knew this connection would come through an old pair of faded blue jeans.
As the girls were hanging out one day, they came across a vintage thrift store and decided to go in and see what was inside. When they got there, Carmen saw a pair of jeans laying there and she dared Lena to try them on. Lean was the one that could fit into anything and she would look beautiful no matter what. After Lena, Bridget tired them on. They fit both of the girls perfectly. They thought how in the world could these jeans fit both of us? Now it was Tibby’s turn. And of course they fit her too! Now the only true test would be if Carmen could fit into them. Carmen slipped on the jeans and they miraculously fit right to her body. The girls thought that these jeans had to be magical. That was how their summer started.
The girls made a long list of rules and then decided what order they would travel in. The girls decided that Lena would get to take them to Greece first.
While Lena was in Greece, she fell in love with a boy named Kostos. They had a great summer together and Lena thought it was all because of this magical pair of pants.
Carmen got the pants next. But while she was in South Carolina she found out that her dad was engaged and he was getting married at the end of the summer. Carmen had her whole summer with her dad planned out but now it was all ruined. She did not like her new step-mom at all. She also did not like her new stepbrother or sister.
Next the jeans went to Bridget who was down in Baja. Bridget also fell in love but the boy that she wanted was off limits. She couldn't have him because he was one of the coaches at the soccer camp. One night Bridget put on the jeans and went to find the boy that she liked. They spent the night on the beach together and he fell in love with her. She thought that it was because the pants gave her good luck.
Tibby got the pants after that. She was the boring one this summer and stayed at home to help her mom with her little brother and sister. Nothing cool happened to her while she was wearing the pants.
The rest of the summer is history.
I especially like this book because it talks about 4 friends who found a special connection between themselves and something, even a pair of jeans, could bring them closer. Its a great book and it keeps you wanting more. My favorite part of the book is when the girls all get back from their summer vacations. They get together and talk about how their summer went and how all of them were. They kinda had a way of communication during the summer but they for the most part didn't get to talk to each other. So this was a time when they could talk about all of their adventures together. Another one of my favorite parts is when Bridget falls in love with Eric. Ann Brashares makes this part in the book really romantic and it keeps you guessing what is going to happen between them two. I would suggest this book to anyone. It is a very good story and it is a great read.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
The Day After Tomorrow
I was 13 years old when my parents died. I remember sitting at their funeral on that frigid, but sunny December morning and asking God, “Why me? Why now?” I never really stumbled upon the answer to that question. I just knew that God must have needed two more angels in heaven and it was time for him to take mine.
After their deaths, my brother Jax and I moved in with my Aunt Josie. She took us in graciously and treated us like her own kids. The first few days all I could do was cry. My best friend, Dakota, would always come over and try to cheer me up. Most of the time it worked. We would go to the coffee shop and hang out or just talk. It was good to let her know how I was feeling about all of this. I loved having someone there that I could vent too. She also knew what I was going through. Her mom had died about a year and a half ago and she was still trying to get over that. It was one of the roughest times in both of our lives and now it means the world to me to have her with me.
After I got used to the fact of living with my aunt, I needed to occupy myself so I could get my mind off my parents. That was when I decided to start rock climbing. I didn’t want to go with a group so I decided that I would go all by myself.
I decided to go to Cabelas and buy all of my rock climbing gear.
It was a bright sunny morning and I went out to an old abandoned building to start my climb. Each day I would go out to this building and climb a little higher every time I tried. I was building up the courage and strength to make it to the top.
Finally after weeks of climbing I made it. I felt like I was on the top of the world and that I had accomplished something that was dangerous. I scaled down the building while thinking to myself that now, it was time for a bigger challenge.
Jax was going to drive me out to Mt. St. Helen's so that I could find a group to climb with. We told aunt Josie that we would be staying in a hotel and would be back in a few days. As we were driving, Jax turned to me and asked, “Why are you doing this? It’s so dangerous. We just lost mom and dad and I can’t even bear the thought of losing you too.” I told him that I was doing this because I miss mom and dad so much and rock climbing makes me feel good and helps the pain go away. It distracts me from thinking about them all the time. We were silent for the rest of the drive. After a few hours, we finally came to the National Park. We found out that there was a group that was hiking up the mountain tomorrow at 5. A.M.
Jax and I stayed in a hotel that night and came back bright and early so I could hike with the others.
This wasn’t a rock climbing group but I brought my stuff along anyway. I knew that I could sneak off and climb alone. This was taking a risk but I knew that I could do it.
It was about noon and I finally got my chance to sneak off. I began to climb and climb and climb. I got about 100 feet up the mountain and my gear got stuck and I could not get it out. All I could see was a perfect crevice running straight up the side of the mountain. I decided that I was going to free hand it. It was really scary at a few places but I managed to get pretty far considering that fact that I didn't have any of my stuff. I was about 150 feet up the mountain and all of the sudden my foot gave way and I lost my grip. I started plunging for the earth beneath me. I was fiercely trying to grab for things to keep myself from falling but nothing worked. There was no cliff or rock sticking out that I could grab onto. I kept on speeding faster right towards my death.
There was this weird beeping noise and I didn't know where it was coming from. I wanted to scream, “Stop! I can’t take it anymore!” But I couldn’t. The silence was drowning out my voice. Then the beeping finally got quieter. I opened my eyes and realized that I was in the hospital. I could feel all the needles in my arms and I could hear my heart beating really fast. The nurse then saw that I was awake and came to ask me how I was feeling. I couldn't even respond to her. I wanted to talk so badly but nothing came out of my mouth. A few minutes after she left, I heard two people talking in the hallway next to my room. I heard my aunt’s voice and another strange voice. I thought it was probably the doctor. I couldn't hear all that he said. but the last thing I did hear was that I would never be able to walk again. My heart dropped and I fell back asleep.
After their deaths, my brother Jax and I moved in with my Aunt Josie. She took us in graciously and treated us like her own kids. The first few days all I could do was cry. My best friend, Dakota, would always come over and try to cheer me up. Most of the time it worked. We would go to the coffee shop and hang out or just talk. It was good to let her know how I was feeling about all of this. I loved having someone there that I could vent too. She also knew what I was going through. Her mom had died about a year and a half ago and she was still trying to get over that. It was one of the roughest times in both of our lives and now it means the world to me to have her with me.
After I got used to the fact of living with my aunt, I needed to occupy myself so I could get my mind off my parents. That was when I decided to start rock climbing. I didn’t want to go with a group so I decided that I would go all by myself.
I decided to go to Cabelas and buy all of my rock climbing gear.
It was a bright sunny morning and I went out to an old abandoned building to start my climb. Each day I would go out to this building and climb a little higher every time I tried. I was building up the courage and strength to make it to the top.
Finally after weeks of climbing I made it. I felt like I was on the top of the world and that I had accomplished something that was dangerous. I scaled down the building while thinking to myself that now, it was time for a bigger challenge.
Jax was going to drive me out to Mt. St. Helen's so that I could find a group to climb with. We told aunt Josie that we would be staying in a hotel and would be back in a few days. As we were driving, Jax turned to me and asked, “Why are you doing this? It’s so dangerous. We just lost mom and dad and I can’t even bear the thought of losing you too.” I told him that I was doing this because I miss mom and dad so much and rock climbing makes me feel good and helps the pain go away. It distracts me from thinking about them all the time. We were silent for the rest of the drive. After a few hours, we finally came to the National Park. We found out that there was a group that was hiking up the mountain tomorrow at 5. A.M.
Jax and I stayed in a hotel that night and came back bright and early so I could hike with the others.
This wasn’t a rock climbing group but I brought my stuff along anyway. I knew that I could sneak off and climb alone. This was taking a risk but I knew that I could do it.
It was about noon and I finally got my chance to sneak off. I began to climb and climb and climb. I got about 100 feet up the mountain and my gear got stuck and I could not get it out. All I could see was a perfect crevice running straight up the side of the mountain. I decided that I was going to free hand it. It was really scary at a few places but I managed to get pretty far considering that fact that I didn't have any of my stuff. I was about 150 feet up the mountain and all of the sudden my foot gave way and I lost my grip. I started plunging for the earth beneath me. I was fiercely trying to grab for things to keep myself from falling but nothing worked. There was no cliff or rock sticking out that I could grab onto. I kept on speeding faster right towards my death.
There was this weird beeping noise and I didn't know where it was coming from. I wanted to scream, “Stop! I can’t take it anymore!” But I couldn’t. The silence was drowning out my voice. Then the beeping finally got quieter. I opened my eyes and realized that I was in the hospital. I could feel all the needles in my arms and I could hear my heart beating really fast. The nurse then saw that I was awake and came to ask me how I was feeling. I couldn't even respond to her. I wanted to talk so badly but nothing came out of my mouth. A few minutes after she left, I heard two people talking in the hallway next to my room. I heard my aunt’s voice and another strange voice. I thought it was probably the doctor. I couldn't hear all that he said. but the last thing I did hear was that I would never be able to walk again. My heart dropped and I fell back asleep.
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